For those unaware, Chris Rivera, former Executive Director, resigned from his position with GuilfordWorks in October. Rivera was appointed as Executive Director of GuilfordWorks in 2019. He is accepting the Vice President for Business Solutions position with South Piedmont Community College near Charlotte.

Shortly after graduating high school, Chris spent five years in the Navy as administrative personnel. Chris attended college after leaving the military. During summer breaks, he worked in a management role in the fast-food industry for several years. Using workforce services to staff his stores, he contacted an old colleague who hired him as a recruiter’s assistant at ResCare. A few months later, he was promoted to the position of business services director. All the while, Chris attended and completed his degree in nursing school.

After relocating to North Carolina, Chris found his passion for workforce development. What attracted Chris to this field is, without a doubt, the people. 

“I loved working with businesses and strategizing with them to find the best approach to fulfill their needs while also helping people looking to improve their circumstances find meaningful employment.”

As the Executive Director of a workforce development board, Chris loved the autonomy and having the ability to challenge the status quo, but also having the opportunity to lead a team that “goes with the crazy” and reimagines what workforce development can be. Being innovative and helping his team think bigger to continue to build and improve our communities was a highlight of Chris’s time as executive director.  

Check out this

recorded during a farewell celebration on September 30, 2022.

Chris is excited to embark on this new journey. He hopes to be able to connect with his team and bring his sense of fearlessness to his new role. He says, “I also hope to bring the willingness to be comfortable and firm in my belief that things can be different if it’s in service of the community.”

We wish Chris the very best of luck in his new role!